889 killed in 61 suicide bombings in Pakistan this year

At least 889 persons were killed and 2,072 others injured in 61 suicide attacks in Pakistan so far this year, as the total number of suicide bombings in the country since 2002 rose to 140.
The suicide bombings in 2008 surpassed the last year's figures of 56, including the one in which former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, whose first death anniversary would be observed on December 27, was killed in Rawalpindi.
The suicide bombers struck in the troubled North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of the country at least for 29 times while 16 others hit their targets in adjacent Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) this year. Swat topped the list of districts where 11 suicide bombers killed 101 persons and injured another 294. Four suicide bombers struck in Peshawar in 2008, killing 99 and wounding 226 others.
Punjab witnessed 10 suicide blasts with five in Lahore alone. Three suicide bombers hit their targets, including the Danish Embassy, in the federal capital during the current year.
Except killing of three alleged bombers in Karachi, no suicide attack took place in the entire Sindh province. A single incident was reported in Balochistan when a young girl student was killed and 22 persons injured in a suicide bombing in Quetta on September 23.
With 29 suicide attacks in 2008, the number of these incidents in the NWFP reached 57 in three years -- 2006, 2007 and 2008. Twenty-three of the blasts ripped through different towns of the NWFP in 2007 while 29 blasts occurred this year.
Apart from 60 suicide bombers, who accomplished their mission, 12 were caught by the security agencies before hitting their targets. They are still being interrogated in police custody.
The Marriott blast, considered the worst ever act of terrorism in Pakistan, was termed as 9/11 of Pakistan where over 60 people including some foreigners were killed and over 200 wounded on September 22.
President of the Awami National Party Asfandyar Wali Khan survived a suicide attack at his guestroom on October 2, when three of his guests and a guard were killed.
All the tribal agencies -- Khyber, Mohmand, Bajaur, Orakzai, Kurram, North Waziristan and South Waziristan -- witnessed either one or more suicide attacks this year.
The districts and towns where suicide attacks occurred during the current year include Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Bhakkar, Attock, Peshawar, Mardan, Parachinar, Swat, Darra Adamkhel, Landikotal, Bannu, Bara, Dera Ismail Khan, Dir Upper, Buner, Charsadda, Hangu, Quetta and Karachi.